WEST MIDLANDS POLICE GREAT WAR MEMORIAL SITE
GEORGE
WALLACE ADAMS
George Wallace ADAMS was born in 1885, registered at All Saints, Hereford in the
first quarter of that year. His parents were George Adams, born 1860, and
Anna Marie (nee Hedger), born 1858. He had a brother, Charles, who was
born in 1890 and they resided at 5 Moorfield Street, Hereford
(1891 census)
and subsequently 20 Widemarsh Street, Hereford
(1901 census).
By 1911 Geroge was boarding at 8 Bayview Crescent, Swansea, was unmarried and
working as a clerk
(1911 census)
but had been in the army and was thus a Reservist. He joined Birmingham
City Police 4th October 1911.
Recalled to the Army at the outbreak of hostilities, George left the Police
service on Tuesday 4 August 1914 to rejoin his regiment at Aldershot.
The 1st Battalion, Scots Guards embarked on the S.S. 'Dunvegan Castle' at
Southampton on Friday 14th August 1914, landing at Le Havre later the same day.
Advancing towards Aisne, the battalion was in constant action until they
entrained at Fisme on Saturday 17th October bound for Hazebrouck in Belgium.
For the remainder of the month the battalion fought battles around Gheluvelt,
before finally falling back to positions between Gheluvelt and Veldhoek.
By the date of George's death the battalion had moved to a farm near Gheluvelt
Wood. During the course of the 11 November 1914 the Prussian Guard attacked
through Veldhoek and made an attack on the farm overwhelming the defenders.
Casualties of 160 men killed are recorded for this day. The survivors, 1 officer
and 69 men, retired to Hooge.
George was recorded as missing, assumed dead, on 11
November 1914, has no known grave and his name appears on the Menin Gate
Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.
Army documents show his effects of £3 15s 11d were awarded to his widow,
Ada, who presumably George had married between 1911 and 1914. Ada James
had been a fellow boarder at the house in Swansea in 1911, see below.
BERTRAM ARMITAGE
Bertram
Arthur Armitage was born 17th September 1885, the son of Abraham, a foreman.
Bertram entered service in February 1901 as a cart lad at Birmingham Station, at
a rate of 10 shillings. He resigned later that year and, on 27 November
1902 he enlisted with the Coldstream Guards, serving for 3 years and being
transfered to the Reserves on 26 November 1905. Bertram then joined the
Birmingham City Police, remaining there until the outbreak of war. In the
meantime, on 14 July 1907, he married Pheobe Greenfield, aged 23 from 47 Tenby
Street, whose father, George Greenfield was a moulder. By 1911 they were
living at 74 Unnett Street, Hockley and had a son, also called Bartram Arthur.
Bertram was recalled to the colours and arrived in France on 13 August 1914 and
was in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August. Betram severely sprained
his ankle in the retreat, and was transferred to work as a clerk at Le Havre
depot. By November 1915, however, he was still unfit for service and he
was discharged from the army and returned to England. After a further year
of recuperation, Bertram rejoined Birmingham City Police on 17 November 1916 and
was issued with warrant number 8616, being posted to the ‘R’ Division, his trade
was recorded as Army & Police. He finally resigned on superannuation
pension on 31st July 1933, aged 47. Bertram died on 22 October 1967 aged
82.